A lazy Sunday morning

“Dad, in which of the Fast and Furious movies was there a tribute to Paul Walker?”

I looked up from my newspaper. It’s only the end of May, but I was reading about new shows coming on in the fall, shows that I would never remember once that season actually arrived. My son had just asked me a question from Trivia Crack, a game we like to play on my phone. 

“Is it Fast and Furious 1, 3, 4, or 7?”

I pondered a second. “Well, I don’t think it was 1. And seven, hmmmmm . . . I don’t think it’s sev-”

“I only heard you say seven, and I went with that. That’s right.”

I knew I wasn’t an expert on Fast and Furious movies, but still . . . They’re about cars, right?

I returned to the paper along with a bite of my sausage, egg, and cheese biscuit.

We had decided to take in an extra destination on our usual Sunday morning routine with a stop at the doughnut shop. I really didn’t need a doughnut – so I got one with strawberry filling, that way I could count it as a fruit. And the sausage biscuit thing? That fulfilled my recommended daily allowance of grease or some other necessary nutrient in my diet.

Ok, admittedly not what I needed (so much for running three miles earlier). Actually, not what either of us needed. But it’s hard to beat a relaxed time with your kids. We were the only ones in the place, and time was, as the Rolling Stones said, on our side, at least it was on this occasion.

“Which South American country is ruled by a monarchy?”

Oh boy. I’m guessing we’re not talking about the butterflies here. This sounds like one I should know. But my only feeble response is a waffling, “Hmmmmmm.”

“It’s Brazil,” he tells me matter-of-factly. Another question right.

We’re the only customers sitting down to eat. A handful of others come through, make a choice among a selection where there is no wrong choice, and leave with their bag of tasty calories.

But, on this rare occasion, I’m not in a hurry. The food tastes good, the newspaper is relaxing, and the trivia is fun. And my Dr. Pepper 10 is cold. (I’m not a coffee drinker. But it’s always kind of like tattoos with me – I want to want to like coffee, but for some reason it’s just not falling into place.)

After reading about all the shows I won’t watch in the fall, I glance down the page. Ahhhh, the horoscopes. “Hey Sam, would you like me to read your horoscope,” I ask, already knowing the answer.

“Yes,” he says enthusiastically, his attention away from my phone. Nothing like the important things in life to distract you from the trivialities.

“Ok. Now let’s see . . . when’s your birthday?”

“You don’t even know my birthday?!!” he asks in mock surprise.

And it goes on like this. Trivia questions, unhealthy food, and a Sunday paper.

I knew it wouldn’t be long before we’d be home, with work and distractions pulling at me from all directions. But it was nice to have that time together. To have A time together. A moment where there are no time constraints or responsibilities. A time where the two of us can share a doughnut. And a laugh or two.